SR E1/R Class

photograph: Dr. Ian C. Allan/Mike Morant collection

Nº2124 running into Bideford station in Southern Railway days.

During the early years of the Southern Railway some ex-LBSCR locomotives were tried out on other lines, particularly in the West Country. The case with the class E1/R was a little different though as they were rebuilt from 0-6-0T to 0-6-2T to be used on the North Devon and Cornwall Junction line. The experiment was not altogether successful (in common with the attempt to modify ex-LBSCR D1 class locomotives for the Lyme Regis branch) but despite this some ten locomotives were rebuilt as 0-6-2 Radial tanks, with larger bunkers, 170lb boilers and a rounded cab roof. The problem seemed to be with their balancing and four were re-balanced by Bulleid to produce a better result. The six that were not re-balanced were transferred to other duties, banking between Exeter St David's and Central, or shunting at Barnstaple.

Now in BR days as Nº32124 Banking at Exeter St David's on 13th April 1957.

photograph: Mike Morant collection

Nº32124 and another unidentified E1/R photographed whilst banking a passenger train out of Exeter St David's station.

photograph: Mike Morant collection

Nº32135 engaged in shunting at Exeter Central. The imposing building in the background is HMP Prison, Exeter!

photograph: Mike Morant collection

Technical Details

Introduced: May 1927
Driving Wheel: 4 ft 6 ins
Length: 32 ft 4½ ins
Total Weight: 50 tons 5 cwt
Water Capacity: 900 gals
Cylinders (2): 17 in x 24 in
Boiler Pressure: 170 lb sq in
Tractive Effort: 18,560 lb
Coal Capacity: ?
Power Classification: 2-F

The following table is set out in order of rebuild:
Early SR Nº	Later SR Nº	BR Nº	Rebuilt from E1	Withdrawn
B94	2094	32094	May 1927	Apr 1955
B95	2095	32095	May 1927	Nov 1956
B96	2096	32096	Oct 1928	Nov 1956
B695	2695	32695	Oct 1928	Feb 1957
B608	2608	32608	Nov 1928	May 1957
B135	2135	32135	Nov 1928	Mar 1959
B696	2696	32696	Dec 1928	Jan 1956
B124	2124	32124	Dec 1928	Jan 1959
B610	2610	32610	Jan 1929	Mar 1956
B697	2697	32697	Jan 1929	Nov 1959
Bibliography: The London Brighton and South Coast Railway by C Hamilton Ellis The London, Brighton & South Coast Railway web site by Dave Searle - www.lbscr.org.uk ABC of British Locomotives 1948 Observer's Book of Railway Locomotives of Great Britain 1958

All photographs are copyright

E1 Class

return to picture gallery page

This page was last updated 12 April 2011